Vehicle wheel



1933. c. G. KELLER VEHICLE WHEEL Original Filed April 24 1928 INVENTOR Ckarles Gffllkr ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 7, 1933 UNITED ATES PATENT orrlcs- G. KELLER, OF HYDE rm, NEW You VEHICLE winter. 7 Orlglnel application filed Aprll 24, 1928, Serial No. 272,404. Illvlded and thll-epplleatlen illed July 81,

This ap lication is a division of my prior and copen ing application Serial N 0. 272,404, filed A ril 24, 1928, and is for subject matter whichis disclosed but not claimed in my prior application 263,373, filed March 21 1928 now Patent No. 1,827,792, issued October 21, 1931.

The present invention is particularly applicable to the type of vehicle wheels in 5vh1ch channel shaped metal spokes have their edges connected by websections which'arecast integral therewith and which preferably curve both axially and radially between the spokes at their inner ends. As an important feature of my resent invention I brace this web from t e hub at points between the adjacent spokes by means of ribs or partitions, and so orm these ribs or partitions that their outer ends serve as shoulders or pilots to insure the proper-centerin of the brake drum and revent any relative radial movement of the rake drum and the body of the wheel.

In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated my invention as applied to a wheel having twin pnuematic tires, and in which various novel features are illustrated which are not herein claimed, but are specifically claimed in copending applications. These 3 features include a novel rim clamping means,

also a novel construction and arrangement of the spokes in respect to the hub, rims, and

brake, whereby a more effective cooling action during the. rotation of the wheel is produced.

In the drawin Fig. 1 is a Fongitudinal radial section through a'construction embodying my invention, and I Fig. 2 is an end view.

I have illustrated my invention as applied to a vehicle wheel havin a hub 10 and spokes 11 cast integral therewith, and in which no fell is employed. The spokes are substantiall y channel-shape in cross-section so as to provide an air passage lengthwise of each spoke, and through which air is caused to circulate by centrifugal or fan action when the wheel is rapidl rotated. The spokes are connected and racedby a web 12 which one rim may Serial No. 554,188.

curves axially; and radially from the outer side of the spoke at its inner end to the inner side of the spoke at its outer end. These webs. are braced and reinforced by ribs 13 which are also cast integral and are disposed 5 between adjacent spokes.

Each spoke at its outer end has a bridge piece 14 serving a double function. It presents an inclined outer surface 15 on which seat, and it also carries a bolt 16 to which t e rim clamping member is detachably secured.

{it the side of the spoke opposite to the brldge piece 14, that is, toward the outer side of the wheel there is a substantially semicircular axially disposed uideway or channel 17. The clamping bo t extends into or through this guideway at a point eccentrically disposed in respect to the axis of said guideway. he features so'far described in detail are somewhat similar to the construction illustrated in certain of my copending applications, for instance, Serial No. 182,199..

The construction illustrated is such that a brake drum of the maximum size in respect 'to the rim may be secured in place but out of direct heat transferringrelationship to the rim. As shown there is provided a brake drum 27 having its outersurface closely adjacent to but s aced from the inner rim, and corrugated to acilitate heat radiation. The brake drum has an inwardly directed flan e 28 which engages with and is bolted to the web 12 by means of bolts 29.

' .As one important feature of the present invention the ribs 13 are so designed that they resent shoulders 30 serving as seats for the inner edge of the flange 28 so as to insure the proper centering of the brake drum. By centering the brake drum at a comparatively few spaced points along the inner edge of the flange 28, expansion and contraction of the brake drum due to temperature variation through a wide range will not cause deflection or warping of any part of the wheel itself, and there is afforded eflicient and" simple means for centering the same and also economical moldin and machinin o erations. The s oulders 30 hol t e drum against any radial movement, and therefore if there be web and said flange to secure said brake drum any eccentricity, warping and other deto the web.

arture from true axial alignment of the Signed at New York n the county of New brake drum and the brake mechanism engag York and State of New York this 24th day l in therewith the bolts will be relieve of July 1931. m

an y shearing strain. The drum will be prop. 7 CHARLES G. KELLER.

erl held centered even if the bolts loosen or if e bolts be smaller than the bolt holes. The ribs 13 serves not only to impart rigidity and structural strength to the wheel, but also per- 75 mit the use of a deeper flange 28 on the brake drum 27.

'Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire. to secure by Let- 15 ters Patent is: so

1. A vehicle wheel structure having a hub, a lurality of U-shaped spokes open on the in oard sides thereof, a web integral withthe spokes and extending substantially axial I 1 between adjacent spo es and spaced from 5 t e hub and extending radially at the inboard sides of'the spokes, reenforoing ribs connecting the axiall extending ortion of said web and the radia ly outer sur ace of said hub between adjacent spokes and presenting radialo:

ly outwardly facing shoulders, said web, ribs and hub' being cast integral, bridge pieces on the open sides of said spokes-and etween the walls of the latter and integral with said so" walls, said bridge pieces being disposed near the radially outer ends of said spokes, and havin the inboard surfaces thereof substantially 1n the same plane as the inboard surface of the radially extending portion of said web, a brake drum having a radially inwardly di- 100 rected flange directly in contact with the radial portlon of the web and the inboard sides 0 said bridge pieces and centered by said shoulders, and threaded members ex- 40' tending through the radial portion of said web 166 a and said flange to secure said brake drum to the web.

2. vehicle wheel structure having a hub, a plurality of U-shaped spokes open at the radiall outer ends and on the inboard sides 11'0 thereo a web inte ral with the spokes and extending substantially axially between adj acent spokes, and spaced from the hub and extending radially at the inboard sides of the spokes, reenforcing ribs connecting the axiallly extending fportion of said web and the radia y outer sur ace of said hub between adjacent spokes, each having a portion extendm in an inboard direction beyond said web, 55' said extending portions dpresenting radiall outwardly facing shoul ers said ribs, we and hub being cast integral, a brake drum having a radially inwardly directed flange partly enclosin the inboard sides of said co spokes to form t erewith air passages for the v radial flow of air through said spokes, said flange engaging with and centered b the and i di shoulders, rectly engagbing the ra ally extending cpilci 'tion of the we and members 05' extending ough the-radial portion of said 

